Grizzlies Make Appearance on Annual GM Survey

By DON WADE

The results from the 12th annual GM survey from NBA.com are in and the Grizzlies show up in several categories. But Tony Allen was the only player to finish first in a category as the league’s general managers voted him the league’s best perimeter defender.

Allen earned 36.7 percent of the vote this year after earning 33.3 percent as the top vote-getter last year. He was judged the third-best overall defender behind Dwight Howard of Houston and Miami’s LeBron James.

The NBA GMs chose Howard as the league’s best center (65.5 percent) and the Grizzlies’ Marc Gasol was second (20.7 percent). Gasol also finished second in the best international player category (26.7 percent) behind San Antonio point guard Tony Parker (53.3 percent). Gasol came in second, behind Minnesota big man Kevin Love, in the category of makes the most of limited natural ability.

Memphis power forward Zach Randolph (24.1 percent) was second to Love (41.1 percent) in the best offensive rebounder department.

Grizzlies players did not crack the top three in any other category but Mike Miller received votes in the most underrated offseason acquisition category and the active player who will make the best head coach one day. Gasol received votes for best passer and best basketball IQ; Allen and Randolph received votes for toughest player.

In the team categories, the Grizzlies were voted the fourth-best defensive club (6.7 percent) behind Chicago (43.3), Indiana (33.3) and Miami (10.0).

Four teams received votes for who would win the Western Conference: 1. San Antonio (40 percent). 2. OKC (36.7). 3. L.A. Clippers (20.0). 4 Houston (3.3). Last year, 60 percent of the GMs chose the Lakers.

Memphis failed to make the best home-court advantage list, too, as OKC took top honors, followed by Golden State, Denver, Miami, and Chicago and Utah in a tie.

The GMs overwhelmingly chose Miami to repeat as NBA champions (75.9 percent) and selected James as the likely MVP (69 percent), the player you would sign if starting a franchise today (89.7 percent) and the player who requires the most adjustments by opposing coaches (66.7 percent).

Houston’s James Harden unseated the Lakers’ Kobe Bryant as the best shooting guard, 56.7 percent to 20 percent.